CHOCKY

This book by John Wyndham was grabbed on impulse.

I can honestly say that it wasn't the retro cover that drew me in! It was the author's name and the fact that it is only 150pp long.

John Wyndham will stretch your vocabulary and expand your mind with his wild sc-fi plots. This story begins with a parent overhearing his 11 year old adopted son having a deep debate about 'time' with an unseen party. The dad, who is on the other side of the hedge, can't wait to see who Mattie is talking to in such a philosophical way. As it turns out, Mattie appears to be talking to himself as there is no-one else around.

And so begins the journey...

The plot thickens when Matt's maths teacher becomes enraged due to Matt using binary code in class; he couldn't possibly have taught himself. Who is this unseen tutor? And why has 'it' taken up residence inside Matthew's head?

This book is almost an antique, given that it was written in 1968 (a very good year, as I recall!). So broaden your mind,Year 9. Throw away 'Twilight' and enrich your literacy skills with this little gem!!
Miss ^__^

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I am 250pp into this 450p novel. It is brilliant! It was recommended firstly by a colleague, and then my sister started nagging me to death about reading it. I even had to promise to put a reminder in big letters on my fridge: "READ HUNGER GAMES".
It is fantasy meets sci-fi comprising a delectable plot wherein select teenagers have to fight to the death for the amusement of the ruling Capitol citizens.
It's got the lot: suspense created through fear, loss, anger, cunning, confusion, exhibition of skill through brains and brawn, with an oh so subtle romantic tinge on the side.
I am cheering the protagonist on, all the while knowing that her victory means certain death for the other competitors.
The bad news? I'll be finished in a couple of hundred pages (sad face). The good news? This book is a trilogy!!! YAY!!!
Miss ^__^

Abandon Ship

No, this is not the name of the book; it's what I did at page 85. I'd had enough.
No offence to anyone who enjoyed Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman, but I found the plot to be contrived and implausible from the start.
So a Yr 12-er is at the door waiting for his exam results. He is a straight A student (of course) and is desperate to get to the preferred course at a lucrative university. Bing bong (yes, onomatopoeia) and it's not the post man, but rather, a beautiful (of course) young woman with whom he'd had an intoxicated one night stand a year ago.
She is holding a baby. His baby, as it turns out, and she has had enough. So as all mothers do (sarcasm) she is dumping the child with him and leaving for good.
Don't misunderstand. The issue of unwanted pregnancy is as important today as it ever was. I just didn't appreciate the cheesy packaging of Blackman's writing. It was too 'neat', too 'convenient'. I like my novel choices to be as chaotic as real life, that's why I deplore romance novels. 
So by the time the protagonist's brother comes out of the closet (the foreshadowing for this was that he was able to cuddle the infant, unlike the father of the child) I knew that I was done. Sorry, Blackman, this novel was death by cliche. Let me know what you think, Year 9.
Miss ^__^